Can opener



Dec. 20, 1960 Filed Jan. '9, 195a.

D. J. WEIRICH CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 III/IA David J. Weirich ATTORNESQ INVENTOR Y CAN OPENER David J. Weirich, 28 Bodine Ave., Williamstown, NJ. Filed Jan. 9, 1958, Ser. No. 707,928

7 Claims. (Cl. 30-16) This invention relates to improvements in can openers of the plier type, adapted to punch air venting and content pouring apertures in the top of a can.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a plier type can openingtool which can be operated with a minimum of effort to efficiently puncture air venting and content pouring holes in a can top.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a low cost plier type can opening tool which is very durable and simple to operate, and which can be fabricated at low cost for the very efficient purpose of puncturing triangular air venting and content pouring openings in a top wall of a can.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a can puncturing tool of the plier type having a pressure member adapted to engage against the side walls of cans and to cooperate with an opening producing cutting head so that with ease the two can be operated for puncturing holes in the top of a can.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a canopener of the plier type having an improved cutting head of a novel shape such as will provide a triangular vent or content pouring opening in the can top.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is the side elevation of theimproved can opening appliance.

Fig. 2 is a top edge view of the improved appliance.

Fig. 3 is a front end view ofthe appliance.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the tool or' appliance, showing the same ininitial position about to grip a can forhole puncturing purposes.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the tool or appliance with the handles squeezed by the hand of an operator for puncturing an opening in the top wall of a can.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a can showing triangular shaped openings which can be sheared in the top wall of a can by the improved tool.

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged cross sectional views taken substantially on the respective lines 7-7 and 88, shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In the drawings where and for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved can opening tool or appliance adapted to be used upon a can such as that shown at B, for the purpose of puncturing air venting and content pouring apertures in the wall of a can at diametrically opposed sides of the can.

The can opening tool or appliance A includes a pair of elongated plier type members 10 and 11, relatively pivoted intermediate their ends, the member 10 includes a rearwardly extending handle portion 12. and a forwardlv extending portion 13 adapted to support an improved can pressure applying member 14, which can appropriately be 2,964,842 Patented Dec. 20, 1960 termed a spur. The elongated appliance member 11, includes a rearwardly extending portion 15 and a forwardly extending portion 17 adapted to support a novel type cutting head 18.

The elongated plier members 10 and 11 are not relatively pivoted upon a fixed pivot axis. It is preferred to provide a pivot pin or spindle member 20 secured on a fixed axis upon the can opener member 11, as shown in Fig. 7, the shank of which extends laterally through a slot 21 provided longitudinally in the other member 10. Within the slot 20, there is rotatably mounted on pin 20, aroller 24, which rides along the slot 21 for the length thereof. The length of the slot depends upon the size of the appliance. At the outer side of the member 10, the spindle 20 is provided with a washer 26 secured in position by a head 27 of the spindle, in the relationship shown in Fig. 7. It will thus be seen that the elongated member 10 may move longitudinally relative to the member 11, by riding of the roller 24 in the slot 21.

The cutter head 18 is constructed of hardened steel. It includes a body portion 30, fixedly riveted at 31 from the free end of the appliance portion 11. The cutter head 18 has opposite sides 35 and 36, extended convergently downward to a chisel edge 37. The fore and aft surfaces 38 and 39 of the cutter head are preferably parallel and located about normal to the direction of movement of the cutter head during a hole puncturing operation. An important feature of the construction is that the sides 35 and 36 are shaped so that the chisel edge 37 has a lowerpoint 40 considerably below the uppermost point 41 at the opposite end of the edge 37. The point 40 of the cutter head is the entering point for the cutter head, and as the plier type members are squeezed together the point 40 will enter the can lid and due to slope of the edge 37 and the divergency and slope of the surfaces 35 and 36, the cutter head will act with a progressive cutting action upon the can top, producing a triangular hole, such as shown at 45 in Fig. 6, of the drawings; the cutting of the hole in the can being rather effortless because of the angles of cutting action of the cutter head.

Referring to the can pressure applying member or spur 14, the same comprises an elongated piece of metal or other material, pivotedon the free end of the portion 13 of the elongated member 10. The extreme ends 51 and 52 are preferably pointed or rather sharp, and the edge surface 53 is inset from a straight line or chord drawn between the points 51 and 52, so that the points 51 and 52 will engage the side walls of the tank and permit balanced movement of the pressure member transversely and longitudinally of the side to ultimately assume the position shown in Fig. 5. The spur or member 14 has a limited pivotal movement because of the provision of a stop pin 60 located upon the end 13 of the appliance. It will be noted that the thickness center line of the spur 14, as shown in Fig. 3 lies in the same plane as the cutting head edge 37.

Resilient means, preferably in the nature of a spiral expansion spring 70, is connected at its ends with handle 11, at one end 71 to the portion 15 thereof, and to the member 10 at its other end on the fore portion 13 thereof at 72. This spring 70 is under tension and normally throws the members 10 and 11 to an opened position, as shown in Fig. 1. The function of this spring is mainly to move the roller 24 to the fore end of the slot 21, in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4. When in this position the spring 70 is still under some tension. The extent of a opened movement of members 10 and 11 is determined by stop pin located on the member 11 in the position shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

So far as the operation of the appliance is concerned, the user grasps the same in his or her hand, as shown in Fig. 4, and the free ends of the appliance are moved toward the can B in the relationship shown in Fig. 4.

Most cans B have a rim or seam 90 at the top of, and generally upon squeezing the handles 12 and 15 of the tool the spur 14 will move to engage the point 51 beneath the seam 90. Because of the pivot action of this spur there will be a balancing of the same to exert an equalized pressure upon the side walls of the can at points 51 and 52 squeezing movement of the tool. The point 40 ofthe cutter head will initially engage adjacent to the rim of the top wall 91 of the can and the point 40 will enter the top wall as the squeezing of'the handles increases. Initially the roller 24 is located in the slot 21 in the position shown in Fig. 4. As the pressure of squeezing action increases the roller will move along the slot 21 and permit the balanced pressure movement and action of the spur and movement of the cutter head against the can top, to puncture a triangular hole 45 in the top wall of the can.

The shearing action of the head 18 is that of shearing the tin to produce a hole on three line ways simultaneously as will be quite obvious from the foregoing.

The improved slide joint of the handle sections, comprising the roller 24operating in the slot 21, enables forward travel of the spur handle to insure a constant application of pressure of the spur up and against the can wall and rim.

It is apparent from the foregoing that application of the tool during a cutting action for producing holes in the wall of a can automatically establishes the pressure of the spur at the desired angle in relation to the cutting head.

Various changes in the shape, size, arrangement of parts may be made to the form of the improved can hole producing appliance of this invention, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A plier type can opening tool comprising a pair of elongated members slidably pivoted to each Other intermediate their ends and each having a rearwardly extending handle portion and a forwardly extending portion, a cutting head carried at the free end of one of said forwardly extending portions, and a can side engaging pressure member pivoted to the free end of the other elongated member forward portion, the slidability of said pivot enabling relative longitudinal movement of the members as they are squeezed to produce an opening in the can.

2. A plier type can opening tool as defined in claim 1, in which resilient means is provided to normally retract and collapse said elongated members.

3. A plier type can opening tool comprising a pair of elongated members pivoted to each other intermediate their ends and each having a rearwardly extending handle portion and a forwardly extending other portion, a hole producing cutter head carried at the'free end of one of 0. said of forwardly extending portions, a can pressing member pivoted to the free end of the other forward portion, the pivoted connection of said elongated members comprising a lateral extension connected on a fixed axis upon that elongated member which has the cutter head thereon and the other elongated member having a slot longitudinally thereon in which said pivot extension slides, whereby upon squeezing action of said elongated members they will have relative longitudinal movement.

4. A tool as described in claim 3, in which spring means is connected to said elongated members normally tending to move said elongated members to an opened position and to move the pivot extension into the fore end of said slot.

5. A can opening tool as described in claim 4, in which the pressure producing member comprises a pivoted spur with upper and lower forward extending pointed ends.

6. A plier type can opening tool of a nature to puncture a hole in the top wall of a can comprising a pair of elongated members slidably pivoted together intermediate their ends and each including a rearwardly extending hand engaging portion and a forwardly extending other portion, a hole producing cutter head carried at the free end of one of said forwardly extending portions, and a can engaging spur pivoted between its ends on the free end of the other elongated member forwardly extending portion, said spur having upper and lower can engaging points which extend forwardly with the surface between said points lying rearwardly from a straight line drawn between said can engaging points of said spur, the said sliding pivot enabling the elongated member having the spur thereon to move forwardly with respect to the other elongated member, as a result of squeezing action upon the handles of said members.

7. A plier type can opening tool as described in claim 6 in which spring means is connected to said elongated members normally tending to throw the handle portions thereof in an opened extended relation, and means on said tool to limit the extended opening position of said elongated members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,492,855 Linn May 6, 1924 1,569,289 Linn Jan. 12, 1926 1,626,052 Schaefer Apr. 26, 1927 1,662,172 Schaefer Mar. 13, 1928 1,985,862 Kronquest Dec. 25,- 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 117,632 Sweden Dec.-16, 1944 604,397 Germany Oct. 20, 1934 

